Plasma Membrane and its Importance in Homeostatis

The plasma membrane surrounds the cytoplasm of living cells, physically separating the intracellular components from the extracellular environment. It also plays a role in anchoring the cytoskeleton provide shape to the cell, and in attaching to the extracellular matrix and other cells to help group cells together to form tissues.
The plasma membrane helps maintain homeostasis by diffusion and osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a membrane. Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.
When there is an excess amount of a substance inside the cell, the cell excretes it to the extracellular environment by diffusion. The substances diffuse through the cell membrane and out into the outside of the cell. The opposite occurs when there is not enough of the substance inside the cell. When there is too little or excess amount of water inside the cell, the cell excretes or takes in the water using osmosis.
The membrane is selectively permeable and able to regulate what enters and exits the cell, thus facilitating the transport of materials needed for survival. The movement of substances across the membrane can be passive, occurring without the input of cellular energy, or active, requiring the cell to expend energy in transporting it. The plasma membrane thus works as a selective filter that allows only certain things to come inside or go outside the cell.The plasma membrane surrounds the cytoplasm of living cells, physically separating the intracellular components from the extracellular environment. It also plays a role in anchoring the cytoskeleton provide shape to the cell, and in attaching to the extracellular matrix and other cells to help group cells together to form tissues.
The plasma membrane helps maintain homeostasis by diffusion and osmosis. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a membrane. Diffusion is the process by which molecules spread from areas of high